Planning Planting New Potatoes

First early potatoes can be ready in June 2009 if you start to do the simple things right now. Decide what variety or varieties you are going to grow and buy them from a reputable seed potato merchant so they should be virus free. I would recommend you try Arran Pilot, Pentland Javelin or for roasting try Ulster Chieftain.Chit your potatoes in February by placing them in shallow trays thick end upper most, in a well lit, frost free area. You want short one inch strong growths coming out of the eyes. If the seed is too large you can cut it in half length ways with half the shoots in each half. Leave the cut surface to mdry for a week before planting.Plant in late March about 6 inches deep – you can use a bulb planter if you want. If using a barrel, tub or new special sack leave plenty of space at the top so you can top up the soil level as the plants grow.Harvest after mid summers day about 13 weeks growing time. Eat as soon as you have picked them.

For more information read ’’text’’:http://www.gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/vegetables-herbs/funny-potatoes/

Comments

The tips are great,
perhaps worth emigrating to good ol' Blighty, Gilli?
I've just had a look at www.gardenerstips.co.uk which is full of good stuff too, even some links to material from the other side of the BIg Pond.
Many thanks for posting this Blog, hortoris, and welcome to GoY.
I have been collecting egg boxes for chitting my seed potatoes and will certainly be referring to your tips.

If you have a Wyvale Garden centre anywhere near you (UK), they are currently stocking a whole variety of excellent seed potatoes.
I have just bought approx 100 Seed Desirees for under £10.50, which is much better value than T&M, especially with no postage costs!
I plant in rows about two feet apart with seeds about 18 inches apart - always into a six inch layer of well rotted manure mixed with garden compost and a sprinkling of chicken manure pellets on top of that.
I embed the seed potatoes into that layer which is in the bottom of a pre-dug one foot trench, after which I back fill the trench and earth up. (I don't find it at all necessary to wait until the first leaves show before earthing up). Keep well watered.
Have been doing this for twenty odd years, and invariably harvest a huge crop after 16 to 18 weeks.

Just found this blog, good tips, thanks. I only plant potatoes when the ones I bought to eat start sprouting. I have to use pots and planters in my outdoor space - I need to know what kind of spacing I should use - I want to use as few pots as possible but don't want to crowd them too much. Any suggestions, please? thanks!